What Happens During a Liquid Ring Vacuum Pump Performance Audit – Step by Step
Liquid Ring Vacuum Pumps (LRVPs) are widely used in power plants, paper mills, chemical plants, refineries, and vacuum systems where reliability is critical. Over time, changes in process conditions, wear, and operating practices can significantly impact pump performance.
A Liquid Ring Vacuum Pump Performance Audit helps identify hidden losses, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities—often without replacing the pump.
Let’s walk through what actually happens during a performance audit, step by step.
Step 1: Understanding the Application & Design Conditions
The audit begins with a clear understanding of:
- Pump model, capacity, speed, and drive arrangement
- Original design vacuum and capacity
- Application (condenser air evacuation, vacuum filtration, paper machine, etc.)
- Gas composition (air, vapour, non-condensable)
- Seal water flow rate and inlet temperature
👉 This step establishes the benchmark against which current performance will be evaluated.
Step 2: Review of Operating Parameters
Next, actual operating conditions are recorded:
- Suction vacuum (mbar(a) or mmHg)
- Discharge pressure
- Seal water inlet and outlet temperatures
- Seal water quality and flow
- Motor power consumption (kW)
- Pump speed (rpm)
Any deviation from design conditions is noted, as LRVP performance is highly sensitive to seal water temperature and pressure.
Step 3: Physical Inspection of the Pump & System
A visual and mechanical inspection is carried out to identify:
- Excessive vibration or abnormal noise
- Leakage from shaft seals or casing
- Condition of bearings, coupling and pulleys alignment
- Scaling, corrosion, or erosion inside the pump
- Piping layout, restrictions, and drain arrangements
👉 Many performance losses are caused not by the pump itself, but by system-level issues.
Step 4: Measurement of Actual Pump Performance
During this step, on-site measurements are taken to assess:
- Actual air or gas handling capacity
- Achieved vacuum versus expected vacuum
- Power drawn at different operating points
- Stability of vacuum under load changes
These readings help determine whether the pump is:
- Operating underloaded
- Overloaded
- Flooded with excess seal water
- Starved due to high seal water temperature
Step 5: Seal Water System Evaluation
Since seal water is the heart of an LRVP, special attention is given to:
- Seal water source (fresh, cooling tower, closed loop)
- Temperature rise across the pump
- Adequacy of seal water flow
- Effectiveness of heat exchangers or condensers
👉 Even a 5–10°C increase in seal water temperature can cause a significant drop in vacuum performance.
Step 6: Identification of Performance Losses
Based on collected data, losses are categorized as:
- Mechanical losses (wear, clearances, bearings)
- Thermal losses (high seal water temperature)
- Hydraulic losses (incorrect flow, piping restrictions)
- Operational losses (running far from design point)
This step pinpoints why the pump is not delivering its expected performance.
Step 7: Energy Efficiency & Power Consumption Analysis
The audit also evaluates:
- Specific power consumption (kW per m³/min)
- Comparison with design and best-practice values
- Potential energy savings through optimization
In many cases, simple changes like seal water temperature control or speed reduction can lead to noticeable power savings.
Step 8: Recommendations & Improvement Plan
Finally, a detailed audit report is issued with:
- Current vs design performance comparison
- Identified root causes
- Corrective actions (operational, mechanical, or system upgrades)
- Expected performance improvement and energy savings
Recommendations may include:
- Seal water optimization
- Internal refurbishment
- System piping modifications
- Upgrading to high-efficiency LRVP or alternative technology
Why a Performance Audit Matters
A Liquid Ring Vacuum Pump Audit Helps You:
Restore lost vacuum capacity
Reduce power and water consumption
Improve system reliability
Avoid unplanned shutdowns
Extend pump life
Most importantly, it enables data-driven decisions instead of trial-and-error maintenance.
Final Thought
A Liquid Ring Vacuum Pump Performance Audit is not just a check—it’s a health assessment of your entire vacuum system. Regular audits ensure your system operates efficiently, reliably, and economically throughout its life cycle.